Electrical regulator.



A. A. TIHRILL.

{ELECTRICAL REGULATOR.

APPLICATION mznma. 3. m4.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

WITNESSES I INVENTUR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN A. TIRRILL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION" OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,134.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALLEN A. 'llunum, a. citizen of the llnitedStates, and a-resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in-' vented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical regula-' tors and particularly to those in which the regulation is effected by opening and closing a shunt circuit to a resistance in series with the field magnet winding of an (Exciter or other" dyhanio-electric machine.

The object of niy invention is to provide a' regulator-eithe character indicated. that shall be effective and reliable in operation, and capableof m: 1intaining the voltage or other electrical quantity of acircuit sub stantially constant in value and of promptly and accuratelyrestoring it to its normal value following a change of loadupon, or other disturbance .of; a system.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing,v Figure l of which is a side view of the main controlling element of the regulator, the circuit connections being illustrated diagramhiatically. Fig. 2 is an end view of the main controlling element of the regulator, and Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification ofone of the parts of the regulator of Fig. 1.. "Fig. 4 is'an enlarged view showing in detail the construction of one of the pivot pins of the regulator.

A system in connection with which theregulator may be conveniently en'iployed comprises'a generator 1 that supplies current to asnitable distrilmting circuit2 3-'4 and the field magn'et winding 5 of which is supplieditom exciter has bars G I. An excit Jr 8 that is eonnectcd'to the bus bars i---7 is provided witlra lield magnet winding J.

in series with which is a suitable variable resistor 10, the effective value of which is determined by opening and closing a shunt .circuit thereto by means of a relay l1 ha'ving cooperating stationary and movable.

fmenibers 12 and 13, respectively, that are? vconnected to the tenminals offihe resistor 10., The relay 11 is provided with an energizing winding 14-that is connected in parallel with an energizing winding 15 of 'citcr or from any other suitable source.

The circuit of the windings 14 and 15 is controlled by a pair of coi'iperuting contact terminals 17 and 18, the former of which is mounted upon a plate spring 19 intermediate its ends. One end of the spring 19 is clamped in a stationary post 20, and the other end extends between two screws 21 and 22, serving as :u'ljustable means for limiting the movements of the contact terminal 17.; The contact terminal 18 is mounted upon the upper face of the lower cross-piece of a small yoke 23. that is carried by the core member24 of an elcctro-magnet having an energizing winding 25. The upper end or cross-piece of the yoke is connected to the lower end of a-heliealtension spring 26, the upper end of which is connected to an eye bolt 27 having a nut 28 for adjusting the tension of the sprim'. The eye-bolt 27 passes tbrough the upper end of 0. rectangular frame 2!) that surrounds and supports the electro nagnet 25 and its associated parts. The movements of the solenoid core 24 and of the contact member 18 are retarded by means of a dash pot 30 that' is swan-ed to the lower end of the frame 29, p

and their movements are also limited by reason of the engagement of a boss or'proeclion. 31, that is provided upon the lower coil-25 receives current from the distributin}; circuit 2 3P4, though it may receive current from anyother suitable source, and its circuit is controlled by cooperating- Sta tio'larv and movable contact terminals 33 and 34, respectively, of the relay 1h. The frame 2!) is steadied or guided by a guide pin 60 attached to the bottom of the dash pot 30 and an apcrtured member 61 in which the pin operates.-

llpolrthe upper end of the core member 24 is a laterally extending cap or end piece 32, and. secured to one side of the frame 29 adjacent'to the said end piece is a magnetizable plate 32 that is adjustable yertically 44 that is provided with a washer or shoulder the said voltage.

coil 41 may be caused tovary' the positions of said parts in accordance with any other of the frame to vary its effect upon the core member. When the coil 25 is energized, the core 24 is attracted. slightly toward the plate, and the contact terminals 17 and 18 are brought together with a rubbing action, thereby insuring good electrical contact between them and' keeping them clean.

The frame 29 is suspended from a lever 35 that is fulcrumed in a stationary. bracket 36, the said lever and frame being operatively connected by means of a universal joint comprising a yoke 37 that is pivot-- ally connected both to the-lever 35 and to the upper end. of the frame 29, the pivotal axes intersecting each other at substantially right-angles. The object of employing a universal joint is to permit of free. suspension of the frame 29 and the parts carried thereby, in order that binding of joints. and consequent friction and inaccuracy of operation, may be avoided.

The end of the lever 35 opposite to that a to which the frame 29 is connected carries an adjustable counterweight 39, that is resilicntly suspended therefrom, and the core member 40 of an electromagnet having an energizing winding 41, the movements of the said lever and associated parts being retarded by means of-a dash pot 42. The coil 41 receives current proportional to the voltage of the distributing circuit 234, and, accordingly, varies the positions of the lever 35 and of the frame 29 in accordance with However, if desired, the

desired -.ectrical condition. Inthus varying the'position of the frame 29, the. position of the contact terminal 18 with respect to the terminal .17 is likewise varied, so that the initial distance between the said contact terminals, that is, the distance which would exist between them, if the winding 25 were not energized, is varied in accordance with the voltage or other selectedv el'ectricaLcondr tion of the distributing circuit.

The core member 40 for the solenoid 41 is suspended from the-lever 35 by means of a non-magnetizable rod 43 having an aperture in its upper'end to receive a pivot pin 45. located somewhat nearer one end than the other. Behind the lever adjacent to the pivotal connectionbetwccn the said lever and the rod 43, a bracket 46 that is apertured to receive the pivot'pin 44. During normal operation of the regulator, the pivot pin 44 occupies the position shown in Fig. 4, but in order to facilitate adjustment of thc regulator prior to placing it in opera tiou,.the pivot pin 44 is withdrawn and its longer end inserted through the lever 35 and into the aperture in the bracket 46. The

position" of the lever 35 is thereby fixed and the adjustment of the spring 26, of the stops 21 and 22, and of the other parts of the regulator carried by the frame 29, may be readily effected.

If, in the operation of the regulator, the load upon the circuit 234 increases to such an amount as to cause the voltage of the circuit to decrease, the coil 41 will be energized to a somewhat less degree, and the frame 29 will consequently be raised slightly, with the result that the contact terminal 18 will be brought closer to, or into engagement with, the terminal 17 Upon engagement of the said contact terminals, the circuit of the relay windings l4 and 15 is established, and the contact terminals of the relays are caused to engage. llugagement of the contact terresistor' 10, and the voltages of the exciter and generator arecorrespondingly increased to compensate for the decreased voltage resulting from the increase of load. Engagement of the contactlterminals and 34 establishes the circuit'of the coil 25, which thereupon attracts its core 24 and causes separatimi of the contact terminals 17 and 18. Upon the interruption of the circuit of the coils 14 and 15, which is thuseffected,

. minals 12 and 13 establishes a shunt to the the contact terminals of the relays disen-- gage and the shunt circuit is again established to the resistor 10, while the circuit of the coil 25 is again interrupted.

The coil 25 is thusalternately energized and deiinergized and serves. to vibrate the contact terminals 17 and'lS into and out of engagement, while the coil 41 serves to vary the position of the contact terminal 18 with respect to the terminal 17 so that the said terminals will engage and disengage for varying periods dependent upon the voltage of the circuit 23-1'. The arrangement is such that the resistor-10 1S shunted for a greater average period when there is a tendency for the voltage of'thc circuit to be-rmluccd, and for a shorter average period when the tendency is toward a higher voltage, with the result that the voltage of the distributing circuit is maintained sub stantiallyiiniform. l

The. boss or projection 31 cooperates with the spring 19 tplimgit relative movements of the contactterminals 17 and 18 for the purpose of "permitting of rcadily' cutting the regulator into and out of service. -(1utting the regulator out of service is accomplished by, decreasing the actual value of the re sistance 10 in the exciter field circuit. as the said resistance normal] y has an actual value in excess of that which would cause the generator to assume its normal voltage it no regulator were employed. This is because the effective value of the said resistance is determined by'opening and closing a shunt 7 circuit thereto, and is accordingly less than its actual value. In order to cut the regula tor out of service, the actual value of the said resistance should be reduced to correspond with its effective value when the generator voltage is normal.

The effect of reducing the actual value of the resistance 10 is to cause a tendency of both the exciter and generator voltages to increase, the actual increase, however, being very slight because the regulator contact members continue to vibrate into and out of ,engagement until the actual. and effective As the resistance 10 is further reduced in' value, the frame 29 is lowered to such an extent that the pro'ection or boss 31 engages the up er face of t e spring 19, and the free end 0 the spring iscaused to engage the stop screw 22, with the result that the contact terminals 17 and 18 are maintained out of engagement. The coil 25 cannot then be energized, and the regulator ceases to open ate. It may then be cut out of service.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the movable contact member is carried by a lever 51 that is pivotally connected at 52 to a rod 53 constituting an extension of the core 24 of the coil 25. The other end of the lever 51 is fulcrumed to a stationary support 54, and ,the lever is provided with an upwardly extending arm 55 upon which the movable contact member 50 is mounted. The movable contact member 50 is adapted to enage a stationary contact member 56 that is resiliently mounted upon' the free. end of a plate spring 57, the movements of which are limited by means of stop. screws 58. The

arm 55 of the lever is also provided with an extension 59 that is adapted to engage 'the upper face of the plate spring 57 to serve the same function as the boss or projection 31 in the regulator of the preceding figures,

that is, to permit of readily cutting the regu later into and out of service. The'lever 51 serves'to steady or guide the core member 24 and the frame 29, and, by reason of the provision of the upwardly. extending arm 55, the contact terminals 50 and 56 are caused to engage with a rubbing action that insures good contact between them, and maintains them in clean condition.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical regulator comprising 30:

operating contact members, a lever, means for actuating the lever, a frame pivotally suspended from the lever, means for guiding the movements of said frame, and an electromaguet carried by said frame for actuating one of said contact members.

2. An electrical regulatorcomprising co. operating contact members, a lever, means for actuating the lever, and an electromagnet for actuating one of said contact members the said electromagnet being pivotally suspended from the lever.

An electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members, a lever, means for actuating the lever, an electromagnet for actuating one of said contact members, and a universal joint connecting said eleetromagnet to said lever.

4. An electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members, an electromagnetic actuator for one of the members, means for guiding the movements of said actuator, a lever from which the said actuator is pivotally suspended, and means for actuating the said lever.

5. An electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members, an electromagnetic actuator for one of the members, a lever from which the said actuator is suspended, means for actuating the said lever, and a universal joint operatively connecting the said actuator to said lever.

6. An electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members one of which is resiliently mounted, means for limiting the movements of the resiliently mounted con tact member, an electromagnetic actuator for the other contact member, a lever from which the said actuator is pivotally suspended, and means for actuating the said lever.

7. An electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members one of whichis resiliently mounted, means for limiting the movements of the said resiliently mounted member, an electromagnetic actuator for: the other contact member, means associated with said actuator for assisting in further limiting relative movements of the said contact members, a lever from which the'said actuator is pivotally suspended, and means for actuating the said lever.

.8. An electrical regulator comprising cooperating c'ontact members, a lever, means for actuating the same, a frame pivotally suspended from the lever, an electromagnet carried by said frame for actuating one of said contact members, said electromagnet havin a resiliently supported core member.

9. n electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members, a lever, means for actuating the lever, a frame pivotally suspended from the lever, an electromagnet carried by said frame for actuating one of said contact members, said electromagnet having a resiliently supported core member, and means associated with said core member for limiting relative movements of said contact members.

10. An electrical regulator comprising cooperating contact members, a bell-crank lever carrying one of said contact members. an electromagnet for actuating said lever,

0 another lever from which the said electromagnet is pivotally suspended, and means for actuating the latter lever.

In testin'lony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day u'f Feb. 1914.

ALLEN A. TIRRILL.

\Vitncsses 0110 S. SCI-IAIRER, B. B. Hines. 

